Tamper-evident container

ABSTRACT

A tamper-evident container comprises a body portion ( 2 ), a lid portion ( 4 ) adapted to engage and close said body portion ( 2 ), and at least one tamper-evident element ( 14 ) releasably attached to one of said portions ( 4 ) by a weakened connection ( 16 ), and having an operative position co-operating with means on the other of said portions ( 2 ) to prevent removal of the lid portion ( 4 ) from the body portion ( 2 ), the lid portion ( 4 ) only being removable from the body portion ( 2 ) subsequent to breakage of the weakened connection ( 16 ) between the or each tamper-evident element ( 14 ) and the one portion ( 4 ) of the container, the or each tamper evident element ( 14 ), on breakage, having a displaced position on the other portion ( 2 ) of the container providing a visual indication that tampering may have occurred, and the container incorporating means to retain the or each tamper-evident element ( 14 ) in its displaced position on the other portion ( 2 ) of the container such that removal of the or each tamper-evident element ( 14 ) from its displaced position cannot be effected without damage to the element ( 14 ).

TECHNICAL FILED

This invention relates to tamper-evident containers and moreparticularly to containers provided with elements thereon for indicatingwhether or not the container has been tampered with prior to initialuse.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

In order to attempt to counter modern trends towards sabotaging thecontents of certain containers, particularly those containing materialsto be consumed or to be used on babies or infants, it is becomingincreasingly necessary to provide visual evidence in or on thecontainers that they have not been opened or tampered with prior to useof the contents.

Although tamper evident means are well-established on containers such asbottles with round lids, the provision of such means on rectangular,box-like containers comprising separate or hinged box portions and lidportions poses more of a problem.

It is known to provide sealed foil covers on the box portion below thelid portion to protect the contents of the container, but such foilseals are not visible until the lid portion is removed from the boxportion.

GB 2239 866 discloses a box-like container provided with tamper evidentmembers frangibly secured to the lid portion and co-operating with thebox portion normally to prevent removal of the lid portion from the boxportion. When the tamper evident members are pressed down, the frangibleconnection with the lid portion is broken and the lid portion can beremoved from the box portion.

However, the tamper evident elements, once the frangible connections arebroken, become separate from the container and must be disposed of.Clearly such disposal, particularly where there are a plurality ofelements each of which must be broken away to achieve opening of thecontainer, is inconvenient.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It would be desirable to be able to provide a container the tamperevident elements of which do not require disposal as heretofore.

According to the present invention there is provided a tamper-evidentcontainer comprising a body portion, a lid portion adapted to engage andclose said body portion, and at least one tamper-evident elementreleasably attached to one of said portions by a weakened connection,the or each tamper-evident element having an operative position on thecontainer co-operating with means on the other of said portions such asto prevent removal of the lid portion from the body portion, thearrangement being such that the lid portion can only be removed from thebody portion subsequent to breakage of the weakened connection betweenthe or each tamper-evident element and the one portion of the container,characterised in that the or each tamper evident element, on breakage,has a displaced position on the other portion of the container providinga visual indication that tampering may have occurred, the containerincorporating means to retain the or each tamper-evident element in itsdisplaced position on the other portion of the container such thatremoval of the or each tamper-evident element from its displacedposition cannot be effected without damage to the element, therebymaking it difficult or impossible to hide the fact that thetamper-evident elements have been disturbed.

In one embodiment of the invention the respective portions of thecontainer have co-operating rims on part or the whole of theirco-operating peripheries. The tamper-evident elements may beincorporated in these rims, preferably in the lid portion.

Conveniently the rim of the body portion is of substantially invertedU-shape in transverse section and includes, for the or eachtamper-evident element, an aperture in the upper wall thereof, saidelement, in its operative position, projecting from said aperture abovethe upper wall of the rim of the body portion, breakage of the or eachweakened connection being achieved by forcible depression of the or eachtamper-evident element into a displaced position, in which displacedposition the or each element is housed within the rim of the bodyportion with the upper wall of the tamper-evident element beingsubstantially co-planar with the upper wall of the rim of the bodyportion to be visible through the associated aperture in said rim of thebody portion.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the container comprises abody portion having a reduced diameter neck, and a lid portion which isa push snap-fit onto the neck of the body portion, the or eachtamper-evident element being connected by a weakened connection to thelower edge of the lid portion to depend therefrom, the neck of the bodyportion having formed thereon, one for each tamper-evident element, ahollow box-like receiving member into which the associatedtamper-evident element extends to be contained thereby in the operativeposition of said element, the or each tamper-evident element and the oreach receiving member having co-operating surfaces thereon preventingrelative axial movement between the lid portion and the body portion,the arrangement being such that, on forcible removal of the lid portionfrom the body portion, the or each weakened connection is broken and theor each tamper-evident element falls to a displaced position projectingfrom the associated receiving member to provide a visual indication ofsaid removal.

Conveniently the displaced position of a tamper-evident element withinthe receiving member is determined by abutment of the lower end of theelement with a shoulder on the body portion below the neck thereof.

Preferably the or reach tamper-evident element is integrally mouldedwith its associated container portion and is connected thereto by meansof at least one strip member extending between said element and saidportion, the connection between the strip member and the containerportion being weaker than the connection between the strip member andthe element.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1 and 2 are scrap vertical sections through part of the lidportion, body portion and tamper-evident element of a first containeraccording to the invention in the operative position and displacedposition respectively of the tamper-evident element;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are isometric views of the parts of the container shown inFIGS. 1 and 2 respectively;

FIG. 5 is a plan view from above of a tamper-evident element of thecontainer of FIGS. 1 and 2 showing the means of connection to the rim ofthe lid portion;

FIG. 6 is an isometric view of a closed second container according tothe invention;

FIG. 7 is an isometric view, partly cut away, of the tamper evidentelement of the container of FIG. 6 with the lid portion removed;

FIG. 8 is a vertical section through a third container according to theinvention, and

FIG. 9 is a detail of FIG. 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 5 of the drawings, the illustrated firstcontainer comprises a box portion 2 to which is hingedly mounted a lidportion 4. The box portion 2 is provided with a peripheral rim 6 ofsubstantially inverted U-shape in transverse section, said rim 6including a substantially horizontal top wall 8 and a depending outersidewall 10.

The lid portion 4 includes a substantially horizontal peripheral rim 12,the rims 6 and 12 being integrally moulded with the associated portion2,4 of the container.

Integrally moulded with the rim 12, one to each side of the container,are a pair of tamper-evident elements indicated generally at 14, eachelement 14 being substantially U-shape in transverse section. Theelements 14 are each connected to the rim 12 by a number of taperingstrips 16 integrally moulded with the rim 12 and the element 14 andextending between the element 14 and the rim 12, the area of connectionbetween each strip 16 and the rim 12 being substantially less than thatbetween the strip 16 and the element 14.

The elements 14 each comprise opposed sidewalls 18, 20 and a top wall 22and, in the operative position of an element 14 shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and6, the bulk of the element is upstanding from the rim 12 of the lidportion 4, only the free ends of the sidewalls 18, 20 depending belowthe plane of the rim 12. The free end of the sidewall 20 is providedwith an outwardly-projecting flange 24 thereon for reasons which willbecome apparent.

The rim 6 of the box portion 2 is provided with a pair of apertures inthe top wall 8 thereof, one located below each of the elements 14 on thelid portion 4, and said apertures being shaped to receive therein thelower regions of the elements 14 in their operative positions.

More particularly, on closure of the container and with the elements 14in their operative positions, sidewalls 18, 20 of the elements 14 passthrough the associated apertures in the rim 6, the flange 24 on thesidewall 20 snapping under the defining edge of the aperture in the topwall 8 of the rim 6, as seen in FIG. 1, to lock the lid portion 4 to thebox portion 2 and to prevent opening of the container.

Thus the upstanding positions of the elements 14 indicate thefactory-produced, normally closed position of the container prior toinitial opening thereof.

In order to open the container, the elements 14 are each presseddownwardly relative to the rim 12 of the lid portion 4 whereby theweakened connection between the strips 16 and the rim 12 are broken andthe elements 14, together with the strips 16 integral therewith, areeach displaced bodily downwardly into the position shown in FIGS. 2 and4 housed within the rim 6 of the box portion 2.

The internal configuration of the rim 6 is such as to provide anabutment 26 for the free end of the sidewall 18 of the element 14 and aco-operating undercut shoulder 28 for engagement by the flange 24 on thesidewall 20 of the element 14, whereby the element 14 is positivelyretained in its displaced position within the rim 6 with the uppersurface of the top wall 22 of the element 14 lying substantiallyco-planar with the upper surface of the rim 12 of the lid portion—theco-operation between the flange 24 and the shoulder 28 prevents returnof the element 14 from its displaced position towards its operativeposition.

Thus it will be appreciated that the positions of the elements 14 give avisual indication of the condition of the container, a supposedlyunopened container in which the elements 14 are in their displacedpositions indicating it has possibly been tampered with. Furthermore,the retention of the elements 14 in their displaced positions eliminatesthe necessity to dispose of the elements once the container is legallyopened for normal use.

Clearly the precise number, location and configuration of thetamper-evident elements 14 can be varied to suit particular requirementsproviding there is a weakened connection between each element 14 and therim 12 of the lid portion to enable displacement of the element from itsoperative position locking the container to a retained positionpermitting opening of the container and providing visual evidence of thecondition of the container.

The container may comprise a detachable lid that is removable to openthe container, or may have a captive lid, retained for example byseparate or integral hinge means.

FIG. 6 shown a box-like container according to the invention in itsclosed condition and in which the lid portion 4 is retained on the boxportion 2 thereof by an opposed pair of tamper evident elements 14carried by the lid portion 4, one to each end of the container, anddepending through associated apertures in the rim of the box portion 2substantially as detailed above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5.

However, the means for retaining an element 14 in its displaced positiondiffer from those of the container of FIGS. 1 to 5 as can be seen fromFIG. 7.

Referring to FIG. 7, the box portion 2 includes a rim in the form of abox—like receiving sleeve 30 integrally moulded with each opposed sidewall of the portion 2 and adapted to receive the tamper evident element14 in its displaced position. A vertical rib 32 extends between the wallof the sleeve 30 and the wall of the box portion 2, the tamper evidentelement 14 having an upwardly tapering vertical groove 34 formedcentrally therein.

The displaced position of the tamper evident element 14 is determined byco-operation between the rib 32 and the groove 34 as can be seen in FIG.7, this cooperation retaining the tamper evident element 14 in itsdisplaced position in which the top thereof is visible above the sleeve30.

Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9 of the drawings there is shown an alternativecontainer according to the invention comprising a rectangular sectionbody portion 102 having a reduced dimensional neck 104 above a definingshoulder 106 on the body portion. The container is completed by a lidportion 108 which is a push snap fit on the neck 104.

A pair of diametrically-opposed tamper-evident elements in the form ofclips 110 depend from the rim of the lid portion 108, each clip 110being connected to the lid portion by a series of thin tabs 112. Eachclip 110 is formed at its free end with an outwardly facing hook portion114 having a horizontal surface thereto.

A corresponding pair of hollow, box-like housings 116 are integrallymoulded on the external surface of the neck 104, each adapted to receivetherein an associated one of the clips 110.

The internal face of the outer wall of each housing 116 is formed withan undercut having a horizontal surface thereto, the arrangement beingsuch that, with the lid portion 108 of the container positioned on theneck 104 of the body portion 102, the clips 110 are received withinassociated housings 116 and the horizontal surfaces of the clips 110 andthe housings 116 co-operate with one another to prevent removal of thelid portion 108 from the body portion 102.

Opening of the container is achieved by forcible upward movement of thelid portion 108 whereby the tabs 112 are broken to release the lidportion 108 from the neck 104, the clips 110 remaining within theirassociated housings 116 because of the co-operation between thehorizontal surfaces thereon.

Subsequent to breakage of the tabs 112, the clips 110 each fall undergravity to a position determined by abutment of the lower end of thehook portion 114 with the shoulder 106, in which position the stem of aclip 110 remains within the associated housing 116 but the hook portion114 projects therefrom to provide a visible indication that the lidportion 108 has been removed from the body portion 102.

Clearly the precise construction of the container of FIGS. 8 and 9 canbe varied from that described and illustrated. In particular the numberand locations of the clips 110 and housings 116 can be varied to suitparticular requirements, as can the particular construction of the clips110 and housings 116 and the locking means preventing removal of theclips 110 from the housings 116.

1. A tamper-evident container comprising a body portion having a top, abottom, a longitudinal axis extending between the top and bottom, and aside wall or walls extending longitudinally between the top and bottomand located laterally around the longitudinal axis, a lid portionadapted to engage said body portion in order to close the top, at leastone tamper-evident element which is located laterally outward of thelongitudinal axis from the adjacent side wall or walls, a weakenedconnection which releasably attaches said tamper-evident element to apart of said lid portion and which is located laterally outward of thelongitudinal axis from the adjacent side wall or walls, a removalprevention means, which is provided on a part of said body portion andwhich is located laterally outward of the longitudinal axis from theadjacent side wall or walls, for preventing removal of the lid portionfrom the body portion when said tamper-evident element is in anoperative position, such that the lid portion can only be removed fromthe body portion subsequent to breakage of the weakened connectionbetween the tamper-evident element and the lid portion, and a retainingmeans to retain the tamper-evident element on the body portion, saidretaining means being located laterally outward of the longitudinal axisfrom an adjacent side wall or walls such that the tamper evidentelement, after breakage of the weakened connection, has a displacedposition on the part of the body portion which provides an easy viewthereof and hence a ready visual indication that tampering may haveoccurred, and such that removal of the tamper-evident element from thedisplaced position thereof on the body portion cannot be effectedwithout evident damage; and wherein the body and lid portions haveco-operating rims on part or a whole of co-operating peripheriesthereof; wherein the rim of the body portion is of substantiallyinverted U-shape in transverse section and includes, for thetamper-evident element, an aperture in an upper wall thereof, saidtamper-evident element, in its operative position, projecting from saidaperture above the upper wall of the rim of the body portion, breakageof the weakened connection being achieved by forcible depression of thetamper-evident element into the displaced position; and wherein thetamper-evident element in the displaced position is housed within therim of the body portion with an upper wall of the tamper-evident elementbeing substantially co-planar with the upper wall of the rim of the bodyportion such that the upper wall of the tamper-evident element isvisible through the aperture in said rim of the body portion.
 2. Atamper evident container as claimed in claim 1, in which thetamper-evident element is incorporated in the cooperating rims.
 3. Atamper-evident container as claimed in claim 1, in which the retainingmeans comprises an abutment projecting outwardly from the body portionwithin the rim thereof.
 4. A tamper-evident container as claimed inclaim 1, in which the rim of the body portion is provided with a lockingmeans to prevent upward movement of the tamper-evident element from thedisplaced position thereof.
 5. A tamper-evident container as claimed inclaim 1, in which the retaining means comprises a rib within the rim ofthe body portion adapted to receive thereon, and locate, thetemper-evident element in the displaced position thereof.
 6. Atamper-evident container as claimed in claim 1, wherein said bodyportion includes a reduced diameter neck, wherein said lid portion is anaxial push snap-fit onto the neck of the body portion, wherein thetamper-evident element is connected by the weakened connection to alower edge of the lid portion to depend therefrom, wherein the neck ofthe body portion has formed thereon, for the tamper-evident element, ahollow receiving member into which the tamper-evident element extends tobe contained thereby in the operative position of said tamper-evidentelement, wherein the tamper-evident element and the receiving memberhave respective surfaces thereon co-operating to prevent relative axialmovement between the lid portion and the body portion, such that, onforcible removal of the lid portion from the body portion, the weakenedconnection is broken and the tamper-evident element falls to thedisplaced position where a portion of the tamper-evident elementprojects beyond the receiving member to provide a visual indication ofsaid removal.
 7. A tamper-evident container as claimed in claim 6, inwhich the displaced position of said tamper-evident element within thereceiving member is determined by abutment of a lower end of thetamper-evident element with a shoulder on the body portion below theneck.
 8. A tamper-evident container as claimed in claim 1, wherein thetamper-evident element is integrally molded with the lid portion andwherein the weakened connection is at least one strip member extendingbetween said tamper-evident element and said lid portion, such that astrength of connection between the strip member and the lid portion isweaker than a strength of connection between the strip member and thetamper-evident element.
 9. A tamper evident container as claimed inclaim 2, in which the tamper-evident element is incorporated in the lidportion.
 10. A tamper-evident container comprising a body portion, a lidportion adapted to engage and close said body portion, at least onetamper-evident element, a weakened connection which releasably attachessaid tamper-evident element to said lid portion, a removal preventionmeans provided on said body portion for preventing removal of the lidportion from the body portion when said tamper-evident element is in anoperative position, such that the lid portion can only be removed fromthe body portion subsequent to breakage of the weakened connectionbetween the tamper-evident element and the lid portion, and a retainingmeans to retain the tamper-evident element on the body portion such thatthe tamper evident element, on breakage, has a displaced position on thebody portion providing a visual indication that tampering may haveoccurred, and such that removal of the tamper-evident element from thedisplaced position thereof on the body portion cannot be effectedwithout evident damage; wherein the body and lid portions haveco-operating rims on part or a whole of co-operating peripheriesthereof; wherein the rim of the body portion is of substantiallyinverted U-shape in transverse section and includes, for thetamper-evident element, an aperture in an upper wall thereof, saidtamper-evident element, in its operative position, projecting from saidaperture above the upper wall of the rim of the body portion, breakageof the weakened connection being achieved by forcible depression of thetamper-evident element into the displaced position; and wherein thetamper-evident element in the displaced position is housed within therim of the body portion with an upper wall of the tamper-evident elementbeing substantially co-planar with the upper wall of the rim of the bodyportion such that the upper wall of the tamper-evident element isvisible through the aperture in said rim of the body portion.
 11. Atamper-evident container as claimed in claim 10, wherein the retainingmeans comprises an abutment projecting outwardly from the body portionwithin the rim thereof.
 12. A tamper-evident container as claimed inclaim 10, wherein the rim of the body portion is provided with a lockingmeans to prevent upward movement of the tamper-evident element from thedisplaced position thereof.
 13. A tamper-evident container as claimed inclaim 10, wherein the retaining means comprises a rib within the rim ofthe body portion adapted to receive thereon, and locate, thetamper-evident element in the displaced position thereof.